Thursday, December 31, 2009

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and thank those that have stopped by over the year for visiting my blog! Thanks also to those who took the time to leave a comment as they mean a lot to me, especially after 5 hours alone in the studio ;)

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

This is one of the paintings that has been sitting starting at me for months and it is finally completed...I think!

I think I jinxed myself with the title of this one as it has gone through many, many phases, many of which I regretted, then I managed to push & pull things back around until I was happy with it. It has definitely been a learning experience and is much darker in color and mood than many of my portrait paintings.

Monday, December 28, 2009

With the Christmas season over and the New Year fast approaching I thought I would "clear up" my to do list of paintings that need to be completed and reorganize/clean up my studio. I have a few paintings that I started last year but had to put to the side to work on commissions and other projects and just never got back to them. They have been sitting in my studio taunting me to finish them so I thought this week would be the perfect time to do so.

I also have a painting that I started during a recent workshop I took with Kiff Holland which is about half completed that I will put at the top of the list. Kiff is an amazing artist and a really fun teacher. He uses very strong staining colors, gasp, yet when they dry they are so much lighter and blend into each other beautifully, well, when he does it anyway ;) I have not had a chance to play with staining colors much yet as have been so busy with exhibits and commissions since the workshop so I also plan to do some "serious" playing this week.

The painting is very different for me as the paint is very thick with strong rich colors. It is of a bowl of cherry's and the cool reflections that they make on the bowl.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

The reins and tack are nearly completed, just a few more details to be added and a bit more darks deepened. They eye is nearly done, just need to soften the highlight and lashes. One more layer of browny black over her nose and ears to complete them as well and then a few highlights and she will be complete!

Monday, December 07, 2009

Several layers have been painted for the bridel and reins in different shades of browns. More layers will be added to give more definition and detail to the leather and tack. A bit more layers need to be added as well to the muzzle, eye and mane.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Coming down the homestretch...couldn't resist the bad joke :) Still lots to go but it is looking good with the darks starting to get laid in. The eye color is being built up and then the darks in her eye will be reestablished and her muzzle and ears & eyes still need to go darker.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Much more of the neck details were added today layering with several mixes of brown, red & yellow. The background has been darkened but is not showing up very blue in the photo, I hate photographing artwork, but it looks quite nice in real life so I will wait until all the darks have been established before I decide whether to add a final layer to the background or not.

I have done many updates to her face and hair over the past week as the resemblance was just not quite right. Her lips appear redder in the photo for some reason than they are in the real portrait so I am hesitant to lighten them further or they will not show as lips anymore.

As the paper need to fully dry between tweaks I tried to work throughout the day making little changes here and there modeling her features. As her face is only 1.5" from top to bottom, each little tweak required a very steady hand!